The Sunday herald., 1887-01-02
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
A we'i.rrctectcd witness-uow Tweed
Guarded an --Rcminisccnce
ofGeu. Logan In the wRr-A Curious
Murder Case ava Pardon,
Especial Correspondcncc.l

VI sfu. hOgau III Nue VIVA SWFIOuS
Mnrdcr Case acd Pardon,
special Correspondence
NEw YORK, December 80, 1855.
was laughingy told at the District Attorney a
ONCE this morning that probably the best protected
person In New York City to-day Is the German
girl, Katy Metz, the witness whose life was re-
peacdly threatened because she repeatedly testified
In the McQuade case. The girl received six threat
ening letters intimating that her life was in danger,
from everything from poison TO dynamite u she did
not leave the country before the trlal Of the next
"boode' aldermen. Although since her testimony
others OF the same neghborhood have come for.
ward to corrobora,e her aud the two aldermen who
have turned informers, yet the District Attorney
thinks he cannot AFFORD to have her driven from the
country before the next trial, and so he has her
watched and guarded so that she cannot 20 away.
The police authorities cannot afford to have n
threatened PERSONS life taken after they have full
knowledge sf the danger she Is In through doing her
duty, so they have given her guard to prevent her
life being taken. But the srangcs feature OF all ia
that the "boodle' aldermen yet to he tried have
also surrounded her with rroiectot In tht form OF
private detectives, for fear that her life may be
taken by some Of their foolish or desperate follow
crs. AS the District Attorney cannot afford to face
suspicious that would arise II she were allowed to
go to Germany, and as the police cannot stand the
odium they would encounter II she should be taken
OF by violence, so the "boode" aldermen cannot
afford 10 be suspected Just now OF adding murder to
other crimes. As result, Katy Metz is amply pro.
tected.
was reminded by this curious position OF the
girl OF the experience OF an editor OF this city seve-
raj years ago, when the Tweed ring and the corrupt,
Judges, Barnard, Cardozo, AMI McCunn, were being
vigorously exposed. This editor was particularly
savage upon Barnard, VINO was an exceedingly
popular man among his own court onlccrs, all OF
whom were through natures-dangcrous men. one
day Tweed sent note to this editor, asking to see
him, and on going to his once he was told by Tweed
that there was plan on foot to .sand-bag" him II
he did not stop the exposures OF barnard. Tweed
begged the editor to stop, then told him he had
better look ont for his life, and finally begged him TO
be cautious, because II any harm came to him the
blame would fall upon his (Tweed's) head. "No
harm can come to me after that said the editor.
"Why not" asked Tweed. "Because as soon as I
return to my once | shall write out the facts OF
your threats 10 have me assassiuaied-" "My
tnreatsln exclaimed Tweed. "To have Inc assassi.
mated by Barnards men; and shall place copies in
the hands Of law officers to be opened In case any
| thing happens to me-" And he not only did this,
but sent copy to Tweed. A few days later Tweed
sent him word that he need not fear, and the editor
found, whenever he went into Barnards court, that
his officers were particularly polite to him. one OF
| these kept road house which Barnaris followers
frequented, and here, too, the threatened editor
always found himself fully protected.
| Passing through the City Hall the morning that
Gen. Logan's death was announced, noticed the
| nags at half-mas' ana remarked to one Of the al
dermen that supposed 1t was out of respect to the
| dead General. "Why, MOI" he said; haven't you
| heard? Alderman Pete Masterson has Just been
killed In the Park. It's for him." Such is fame,
| thought.
In none OF the obituary notices of Gen. Logan have
I found any reference to one of the most remark
able Of his military achievements, the full result Of
| which he was prevented from reaping by Gen
| Mcpherson Logan had the advance OF McPherson's
corps In the turning Of Joe Johnston's position Al
Dalton, Ga, Just at the opening of the Atlanta cam
| paign. He penetrated, unobscrved and unopposed
to the north side of the Chattahooche River at Re-
| sacca, where 500 dismounted Confederate cavalry
| held fort guarding a bridge over the river OIL
| the only road by which Johnston could retreat iC
Atlanta. Logan begged Mcpherson, in my hearing
to let him ford the river, scale the fort, and burr
the bridge or hold it, thus getting completely
| rear OF Johnston. Mcpherson hesltated: Logar
begged. Mcpherson spoke OF the danger: LogaI
| insisted on the practically of the movement
Mcpherson spoke Of the inevitable slaughter In the
fordng OF the stream: Logan descanted on the I'm
portance OF the cadture of the fort and the bridge
and offered to lead one Of his brigades in person
night, and the opportunity of driving Johnston from
his base was lost. slept that night with Logan II
an ambulance-'hat is, slept part OF the night IL
| the ambulance, the rest OF 1t under it, Logan wa
the maddest man had ever seen. When he Gnall
got TO sleep he was 80 restless that Twas PRACTICAL
pitched out of The ambulance, and mad TO take rel
uge underneath 1t. The next day the needless br
bloody battle of Resacca took place; Johnston intel
posed once more between Sherman and Atlanta; III
| hunlrpd layg' In nj n pdar
necessary, and Mcpherson paid for his temerity wit
hslfe in sight OF the promised point Of the campaign
Gen Sherman In mis- sMem0irScrticses Mcpherson fC
his too great caution. have often wondered whs
a change In the war the successful attack propose
by Logan wou!d have wrought.
have just been made messenger by GovernG
Hill, and am going on New Years Day OH one OF til
peasantest missions Of my life. write OF the thin
to be done before 1t Is accomplished, but am MOI
ally certain that the mission Will be accomplished
1t is the grateful duty OF conveying the mercy
the Governor to two youths who nave been ten yeal
in prison, convicted by an Illegally constituted jul
Of a crime that probably was not crime, whic
they certainly did not commit, and for which the
were sentenced by an insane judge. The story
worth the telling as an illustration OF some OF III
phases of New York life and law injustice and II
humanity.
William Poole and Joseph Font were two typic
New York boys ten years ago one was an Oyste
man In the employ OF eS-Sherin Davidson; II
other, cripple from his birth, did not work, a
was supported by an uncle. Neither was vicious
inclined yet not over religious, suspect. They o.
casonally aided other youths to paint their part G
the town a reddish tlnge, and were up to pranl
which the police did not always approve. one nigl
they were out late, until after midnight, when the
separated, Poole going to his oyster boat to slee
and Font slipping quietly into his uncle's house {
as TO avoid arousing him or the other inmates. ii
mother had found him sleeping there at ocloc
The next morning Police Detective Noble asked Il
, Font. lie had gone ont, but on his way home
was told by his mother that Capt. Kennedy wantt
, to see him al the station-house. Font immediate
reported there, and was asked whom he had bee
with the night before at certain places and hour
lie named Poole. The latter was arrested, and bo
were placed in cells opposite each 0lher while ID
teclive Noble was concealed in another cell whe
he could Overhear what was said by the prisoner
: All that he could hear was Pooles denunciaton
, Font for "giving him away" because Font himse
was IN trouble Poole told Font not tospeak to hi
again and to keep his mouth shut as to where th'
had been the night before. That was all the d
i tective could swear to. They were taken to II
police court, charged with the murder OF ms
named Ryan, who had been found with his ski
, cracked. They denied their guilt and told whe
they had been at the various hours of the night,
? were held, indicted, and tried for mu
! tify on their own behalf. The crazy X
corder, IIackett, charged strongly against them II
: Jury found them guilty, and the Recorder sentence
|, them TO imprisonment for life. Some four yea
ago, while searching for evidences OF "jurynxing'
New York courts, came across this case and d
: covered that at least two OF the jurors who iri
! these young men were not the persons they repI
, sented themselves to be; In other words, that tn
: had answered 10 the names OF two responsb
!, citizens and served as Jurors In case OF life al
y liberty for the dirty ptance which IL paid to juro
/: Governor Clevelands attention was called 10 n
y monstrous Injustice, aud he said II the survivi
q Jurors would recommend The men to mercy
4 | would pardon them. sought them, and found IN
h they had 80 recommended al the time OF renderi
" the verdict. | obtained a certified copy OF
= record and sent II 10 Governor Cleveland, but
!, went to the White House, forgetting all about
n promise and the prisoners. began pesterlDg &c
ID ernOr Hill about the case, and fnally he told
"a yesterday that he had resolved TO pardon them, a
m promised that should carry them the pardC
m And why this long delay OF nearly two years
ID Governor IIns part7 There IL the cruelest part
the whole pitlful story The Governor had ASK
!" the lawyer who mad defended the two bOys, q
who had heen retained by their friends TO amp,
t.t tI,.fr ,,,.ft